ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Tuesday imposed a Rs28 million fine on Sukkur Electric Power Company (Sepco) on charges of negligence leading to fatal incidents between July 2019 and November 2020.

The power regulator said that on receipt of reports of 20 deaths due to different electrocution incidents during the said period it constituted a three-member investigation committee under Section 27A of Nepra Act 1997 to visit the relevant areas, conduct investigation and ascertain facts and possible violations of Nepra laws, rules and regulations.

The investigation committee’s report revealed that 11 out of the total 20 fatalities occurred due to Sepco’s negligence. These victims include four Sepco employees and seven persons from the general public.

Therefore, the authority issued a show-cause notice to Sepco under Section 27B of the Nepra Act 1997 and later provided an opportunity of hearing to Sepco. Based on the evidence available on record, submissions of Sepco and relevant provisions of the laws, rules and regulations, the authority concluded that Sepco had failed to discharge its statutory obligations to maintain safety standards as laid down in the relevant code and manual.

Further, Sepco also failed to report these fatalities to the regulator in a prescribed manner as envisaged under Nepra Performance Standards (Distribution) Rules, 2005. The authority has therefore, imposed a fine of Rs28m on Sepco.

The regulator has also noticed that Sepco had given compensation of Rs3.5m each to the families of its employees who lost their lives in these electrocution accidents. However, no compensation had been given to the families of seven deceased persons from the general public.

Therefore, Nepra directed Sepco to compensate the families of the deceased from the general public equal to the amount given to its deceased employees’ families (Rs3.5m each) and that documentary evidence of the same shall be shared with the regulator.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2021